ALBANY >> Closing arguments in the retrial of former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, who faces two fraud charges, will be heard beginning at 9 a.m. this morning, May 15.

Bruno, who is accused of taking bribes from Jared Abbruzzese in exchange for directing state money to Abbruzzese’s business interests, did not testify in the trial, which began May 5.

Judge Gary Sharpe denied a motion by the defense to dismiss the case. Defense attorney Ben Hill argued there was no direct evidence Bruno had the intent of taking bribes, and that all the individual actions Bruno took “on their face, are legal.” Sharpe said he was obligated by law to view the evidence as it favors the prosecution.

Bruno was hired by Abbruzzese as a consultant for 2004, and was paid $20,000 monthly until 2005. Abbruzzese also paid Bruno $80,000 for what prosecutors say was a “worthless” racehorse. Abbruzzese compensated Bruno through several companies, and other employees said they did not know what work Bruno did. Abbruzzese said Bruno consulted specifically to him and helped him network with important individuals, such as Donald Trump.

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After the defense rested around 2 p.m. Wednesday, attorneys conferenced with Sharpe to discuss how jurors would be charged.

Sharpe will decide on whether to include an “advice of counsel” charge at the request of the defense. Bruno did not include his horse partnership on annual financial disclosure statements, which his counsel said was a “grey area.”

The defense called James Featherstonhaugh, an Albany attorney and lobbyist who has been friends with Bruno for 35 years. He said Bruno had done consulting work in the past and written work was not always required. In some cases, he said, individuals or companies retained Bruno so that he would be available when needed.

“You can hire consultants for just about anything,” said Featherstonhaugh.

He called Bruno “a great salesman.”

“That’s how he got where he got in life,” he said.

Featherstonhaugh talked about how has a part-time legislature, with lawmakers able to hold other jobs. He said legislators vote on bills that affect their own professions “all the time.”

When asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Pericak if lobbyists sometimes include legislators or staffers because they are perceived to have influence over decision-makers, Featherstonhaugh agreed.

Perciak asked if “it would be better to have the decision-maker, rather than someone who had influence, on your team.”

Featherstonhaugh said you can’t have a decision-maker on your team, likening it to the attorneys having Sharpe on their team.

Defense attorneys estimate their closing arguments will take 60 to 75 minutes, while prosecutors said theirs will take 75 to 90 minutes. Jurors could begin deliberations after that.